Tetherin (also known as BST2) is known to inhibit the release of numerous enveloped viruses. Surprisingly, this study shows that, in the case of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), tetherin has a beneficial role for the virus, enhancing its entry into the host cell. Cells induced to stably express tetherin showed higher HCMV infection levels than controls in vitro, an effect that was due to enhanced viral entry. Furthermore, activated monocytes, which naturally express tetherin and are important for HCMV latency and dissemination, showed increased surface expression of tetherin following HCMV infection, and tetherin knockdown decreased HCMV infection levels in these cells. As tetherin was also present on the virus particles, the authors speculate that the interaction between host and viral proteins results in enhanced binding of the HCMV virion to the cell membrane, in this case capturing it and facilitating its entry rather than preventing its release.